Supergene evolution via gain of autoregulation.

Development requires the coordinated action of many genes across space and time, yet numerous species have evolved the ability to develop multiple discrete, alternate phenotypes. Such polymorphisms are often controlled by supergenes, sets of tightly-linked loci that function together to control development of a polymorphic phenotype. Although theories of supergene evolution are well-established, the mutations that cause functional differences between supergene alleles have been difficult to identify.